Signal-flag for taxicabs



A. 'CRICK.

SIGNAL FLAG FOR TAXICABS.

APPLICATION FILED lUNEZ. 1920.

1,3412 10, a Patented July 20, 1920.

i U W 5 Q5 i I +=e ARTHUR CRICK, OF BRISTOL, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR AND ALBERT JAMES OWEN, BOTH OF TO HUGH DENHAM SWEETLAND BRISTOL, ENGLAND.

SIGNAL-FLAG non TAXICABS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patnt ed July 20, 1920.

Application filed June 2, 1920. Serial No. 285,995.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR CRIoK, of 186 Gloucester road, Bishopston, Bristol, in the county of Gloucester, England, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in and Relating to Signal-Flags for Taxicabs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal flags of the type comprising a casing having a transparent front and containing an electric lamp for illuminating purposes, the circuit of which is closed when moved into the for hire position. The object of this invention is to this type.

According to this invention I provide a gravity-operated switch contained within the flag which closes or opens the switch when moved from one position to the other.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a front view of the flag as raised. It becomes illuminated by the act of raising.

Fig. 2 is a front view with the display front transparent panel omitted.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line m m, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line i/ 7 Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows the flag as lowered to engaged position. The front panel is shown as broken away toward one end of the case.

A flag as made in accordance with this invention consists of a case 1 in which is contained an electric lamp 2, of the bulb type, and a device for making and breaking the lamp circuit. The ends, back and top and bottom of the case are of sheet steel or other suitable metal. The front 3 is a pane of glass or other suitable transparent substance. It is suitably colored as, for example, green or red. The usual words For hire are borne on the transparent front. The front panel 3 is adapted to be slid into place from one end thereof and is readily withdrawn for giving access to the interior of the case. The device is characterized by a gravity-operated switch contained within the flag which closes or opens the switch when movedfrom one position to the other.

The terminals 4 and 5 of the lamp wires stand each on separate contact blades 6 and orovide an im roved fia of 7 of gun metal or other suitable metal below which is an insulating pad 8. At the opposite end of the case to that at which the terminals 4. and 5 are situated is located a chamber 9 in which is a weight 10 which is free to slide lengthwise in the chamber 9 which is closed at top and open below. The blade 6 lies throughout its length on the pad 8 and does not rise from it. The blade 6 lies in part under the blade 7 which latter is normally, that is to say, when the flag is in the lowered position, maintained by its own resiliency raised out of contact with the under blade 6. Both blades ex tend to below the open end of the chamber 9.

The case is secured to a pole 11 which is of the usual kind and pivotal for raising and lowering the flag as ordinarily. A convenient way of attaching the lantern is by sliding it on to an existing plate flag 12 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4; of the drawings.

Vhen the flag is in the raised position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9., the weight 10 in' the chamber 9 holds down the blade 7 in contact with the blade 6. The electric circuit through the lamp is established and the flag is thus illuminated showing that the vehicle is disengaged.

The act of turning the flag to the lowered position causes the weight 10 to retire into the chamber 9. The blade 7 rebounds out of contact with the blade 6, the electrical circuit is broken and the lamp extinguished. This position is shown in Fig. 5.

By means of a switch in the leads to the lamp and placed in a position convenient for operation by the driver of the vehicle, supply of current to the flag is cut off in daytime and at such other times as desired.

My invention. is applicable to hackney vehicles generally with or without meters.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is 1. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a hollow signal flag; of an electric lamp mounted within said flag, an open electric circuit whereto said lamp is connected, said circuit including normally spaced contacts, gravity means, with in said flag engageable in one position of the flag with one of said contacts to close the same on the remaining contact, and means to pivotally support said flag.

2. In a device of the kind described, a

lantern hire-flag comprising acase, anelecthe other end of the fixed contact blade, to tric lamp therein, conductors for supplying close the lamp circuitwhen the hire-flag is "th'elam-p with current, terminals for the in the po'sitionindicating For hire and i conductors, a fixed-contact blade in contact to "automatically release" the said spring 5 at one end with one lamp terminal, .a spring contact blade to allow this-to open the lamp 7 contact blade in contact at one end with the circuit when the hire-flag is moved out of other lamp terminal'and varranged over a the said position.

portion of the fixed contact blade; and a In testimony whereof I hate signed my weight arranged to press theiother end of name to this specification. 10.the spring contact blade into contact with r V ARTHUR CHICK.- 

